Sergey Bubka Sergey Bubka carries the flame of the XX Olympic Winter Games. Bubka has been selected as Torch Bearer of the Olympic Flame 10 times. June 8, 1986. Goodwill Games, Moscow, USSR. Sergey Bubka has just broken his own world record. 6m 1cm is the new mark. Sergey Bubka's family From left to right: Sergey Jr, Sergey Sr, Liliya, Vitaly 1995, Gothenburg, Sweden. IAAF World Championship. Fifth gold medal in a row for Bubka. A record sixth will follow in two years in Athens. 2008, Sergey Bubka receives the Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award at the ceremony held in St. Petersburg, Russia. Sergey Bubka with Ban Ki-Moon, UN General Secretary 2008, 'The Bird's Nest', Beijing, China. Sergey Bubka awards Olympic pole vault gold medalist Steven Hooker (Australia). To the left on the podium - Bronze medalist from Ukraine Denys Yurchenko – a Sergey Bubka Sport Club graduate.

Maidan Nezalezhnosti, Kyiv, Ukraine Minutes before the Opening Ceremony of the 2010 Olympic Day Run. Olympic Day celebrations are held annually at the central square of Kyiv, capital of Ukraine. Around 5000 running enthusiasts, Olympic medalists, politicians and showbiz celebrities participate in the festivities every year. 2004, Two IOC members Sergey Bubka and Alex Gilady (ISR) at the Laureus activity in Athens. July 4, 2013, Lausanne, Switzerland Sergey Bubka makes a presentation to the IOC members on his candidacy to become the IOC President.

November 5, 2013, Kyiv, Ukraine Sergey Bubka, Vice-Prime-Minister of Ukraine Oleksandr Vilkul and Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovy sign the Declaration of intention of Ukraine to bad for 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games 2014, Japan Sergey Bubka with his wife on the New Year's reception of the company Dentso January 22, 2014 Sergey Bubka on the Olympic uniform presentation January 22, 2014 Sergey Bubka on the Olympic uniform presentation January 22, 2014 The Olympic uniform presentation. The first athletes who tried the new form were Jakiv Hodorozha (figure skating) and Sofia Vlasova (short track). January 22, 2014 Ukrainian Olympians Jakiv Hodorozha and Sofia Vlasova on the Olympic uniform presentation January 22, 2014 Ukrainian Olympians Jakiv Hodorozha and Sofia Vlasova at the Olympic uniform presentation January 22, 2014 The Olympic uniform presentation.

Sergey Bubka with athletes Jakiv Hodorozha and Sofia Vlasova January 22, 2014 The ceremony of opening of the Olympic Equipment Center at the Ukrainian Olympic House. From left to right: Ukrainian Olympians Jakiv Hodorozha (figure skating) and Sofia Vlasova (short track), the President of NOC of Ukraine Sergey Bubka, the Minister of Youth and Sports Ravil Safiullin, coaches of Ukrainian Olympians January 22, 2014 Opening of the Olympic Equipment Center at the Ukrainian Olympic House. The ceremony was held with NOC President Sergey Bubka and the Minister of Youth and Sports Ravil Safiullin. January 22, 2014 Sergey Bubka on the Olympic uniform presentation writes wishes to Ukrainian Olympians January 30, 2014 The farewell ceremony for Ukrainian Olympic team for Sochi-2014. The Olympians have got a unique present from the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine – map of Ukraine made of folk patterns with ornaments typical for every region of the country.

The farewell ceremony for Ukrainian Olympic team for Sochi 2014 January 30, 2014 Presentation of the logo of the Ukrainian bid for 2022 Winter Olympics January 30, 2014 Sergey Bubka on the farewell ceremony for Ukrainian Olympic team for Sochi-2014 January 30, 2014 Sergey Bubka on the farewell ceremony for Ukrainian Olympic team for Sochi-2014 February 3, 2014. XXII Olympic Winter Games, Sochi, Russia Sergey Bubka with Ukrainian Olympians February 5, 2014 Sergey Bubka carries the flame of the XXII Olympic Winter Games.

February 5, 2014 2014 Olympic Torch Relay in Adler, near Sochi February 5, 2014 2014 Olympic Torch Relay in Adler, near Sochi February 5, 2014 Sergey Bubka on the 2014 Olympic Torch Relay in Adler, near Sochi February 5, 2014 Sergey Bubka with his wife Lilya at the 2014 Olympic Torch Relay February 6, 2014. XXII Olympic Winter Games, Sochi, Russia The Ukrainian Flag Raising Ceremony at the XXII Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia February 7, 2014. XXII Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia The Opening Ceremony of the winter Olympic Games-2014 February 7, 2014. XXII Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia The Opening Ceremony of the 2014 Winter Olympics February 7, 2014 Sergey Bubka at the Olympic Fans’ Party organized by NOC of Ukraine and our partner P&G at the XXII Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia.

February 7, 2014 Sergey Bubka at the Olympic Fans’ Party organized by NOC of Ukraine and our partner P&G at the XXII Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia. February 7, 2014 Sergey Bubka signed Ukrainian flag and wished good luck to Ukrainian athletes February 7, 2014 Sergey Bubka and Olena Pidhrushna`s mother at the Olympic Fans’ Party organized by NOC of Ukraine and our partner P&G at the XXII Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia. February 7, 2014 The Olympic Fans’ Party organized by NOC of Ukraine and our partner P&G at the XXII Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia. February 9, 2014 The Lviv 2022 team bid briefing for press in Sochi, Russia. February 9, 2014 The Lviv 2022 team bid briefing for press in Sochi, Russia. February 9, 2014 The Lviv 2022 team bid briefing for press in Sochi, Russia.

February 9, 2014 The Lviv 2022 team bid briefing for press in Sochi, Russia. February 9, 2014 The Lviv 2022 team bid briefing for press in Sochi, Russia. February 10, 2014 The awarding ceremony for women’s biathlon sprint race at the Olympics in Sochi, Russia. February 10, 2014 The awarding ceremony for women’s biathlon sprint race at the Olympics in Sochi, Russia. February 10, 2014 The awarding ceremony for women’s biathlon sprint race at the Olympics in Sochi, Russia. February 10, 2014 The awarding ceremony for women’s biathlon sprint race at the Olympics in Sochi, Russia. February 10, 2014 The traditional Day of Ukraine at the Olympics in Sochi, Russia. February 10, 2014 The traditional Day of Ukraine at the Olympics in Sochi, Russia.

February 10, 2014 Sergey Bubka and IOC President Mr Thomas Bach at the Day of Ukraine at the Olympics in Sochi, Russia. February 21, 2014 Sergey Bubka and Ukrainian supporters cheer the women's biathlon relay race at the Olympics in Sochi, Russia. February 21, 2014 Ukrainian women’s relay biathlon team (Vita Semerenko, Julia Dzhyma, Valentina Semerenko and Olena Pidhrushna) won gold medal of the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. February 22, 2014 The awarding ceremony of women’s relay biathlon teams at the Olympics in Sochi, Russia. February 22, 2014 Sergey Bubka awards the Olympic champions - Ukrainian women’s relay biathlon team (Vita Semerenko, Julia Dzhyma, Valentina Semerenko and Olena Pidhrushna) at the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.

February 22, 2014 Sergey Bubka awards the Olympic champions - Ukrainian women’s relay biathlon team (Vita Semerenko, Julia Dzhyma, Valentina Semerenko and Olena Pidhrushna) at the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. February 22, 2014 Sergey Bubka awards the Olympic champions - Ukrainian women’s relay biathlon team (Vita Semerenko, Julia Dzhyma, Valentina Semerenko and Olena Pidhrushna) at the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. February 22, 2014 Sergey Bubka awards the Olympic champions - Ukrainian women’s relay biathlon team (Vita Semerenko, Julia Dzhyma, Valentina Semerenko and Olena Pidhrushna) at the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. February 22, 2014 The awarding ceremony of women’s relay biathlon teams at the Olympics in Sochi, Russia.

February 22, 2014 Olympic champions - Ukrainian women’s relay biathlon team (Vita Semerenko, Julia Dzhyma, Valentina Semerenko and Olena Pidhrushna) February 23, 2014 The Closing Ceremony of the Olympic Games in Sochi February 24, 2014 Olympic Team of Ukraine arrived to Kyiv from the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. February 24, 2014 Sergey Bubka, Ukrainian women’s relay biathlon team (Vita Semerenko, Julia Dzhyma, Valentina Semerenko and Olena Pidhrushna) and Ukrainian Biathlon Federation President Volodymyr Brynzak. 2001, Kyiv, Ukraine Bubka at the «West Adrenaline Show» in Kyiv 2001, Kyiv, Ukraine Bubka at the «West Adrenaline Show» in Kyiv At the IAAF Council meeting with IAAF President Lamine Diack 2006, Torino, Italy Sergey and Liliya Bubka.

Together since early 80ies Two pole vault stars and Laureus award winnres - Sergey Bubka and Yelena Isinbayeva Sergey Bubka - a member of the Laureus Academy 2013. Lausanne, Switzerland With IOC colleagues at the front of Olympic Museum 2013, Kyiv, Ukraine Sergey Bubka at the Ukrainian 'Людина Року' ('Person of the Year) Ukrainian national ceremony August 2008 Sergey Bubka is interviewed near the Ukrainian House at Beijing Olympics 2006, Kyiv. Ukraine Bubka runs at the Olympic Day celebration in Kyiv May 4, 2014 Sergey Bubka congratulates Ukrainian team who won two gold medals at the IAAF World Race Walking Cup. May 4, 2014 Sergey Bubka at the IAAF Race Walking Committee meeting in Taicang, China. May 4, 2014 Sergey Bubka in the IAAF Race Walking Committee meeting in Taicang.

May 4, 2014 Sergey Bubka participated in the Closing ceremony of the IAAF World Race Walking Challenge hanging the flag from Taicang to Cheboksary, Russia, next host of the event. April 23, 2014 Sergey Bubka awards the ‘Hero of Ukrainian Sport’ (people’s choice) star fencer Olha Kharlan.

April 23, 2014 Sergey Bubka awards the ‘Hero of Ukrainian Sport’ (people’s choice) star fencer Olha Kharlan April 23, 2014 Sergey Bubka in the Award Ceremony ‘Sport Heroes of the Year 2013’ April 23, 2014 Sergey Bubka in the Award Ceremony ‘Sport Heroes of the Year 2013’ April 23, 2014 Sergey Bubka awards Ukraine Women’s Biathlon Relay team April 23, 2014 Sergey Bubka talks to the Ukrainian media before ‘Sport Heroes of the Year 2013’ Award Ceremony April 23, 2014, Kyiv, Ukraine The Award Ceremony ‘Sport Heroes of the Year 2013’ Febtuary 15, 2014. Donetsk, Ukraine 'Pole Vault Stars' meeting. Bubka and Renaud Lavillenie minutes after the French has broken Sergey's world record 2013.

Lausanne, Switzerland Presenting Ukraine NOC gift to Bahamas NOC President Mr Wellington Miller With Bahamas Athletics federation president Mike Sands With coach Viktor Bryzgin and Ukrainian team leader Evhen Bazhenkov With mexican colleagues NOC of Ukraine and Ukrainian Diving Federation congratulate sports journalists on the Journalists’ day June 13, 2014, Kyiv Congratulating the Ukrainian national diving team June 13, 2014, Kyiv Congratulating the Ukrainian national diving team June 13, 2014, Kyiv Congratulating the President of Ukrainian Diving Federation Igor Lysov June 21, 2014, Kyiv 2014 Olympic Day in Kyiv June 21, 2014, Kyiv 2014 Olympic Day in Kyiv June 21, 2014, Kyiv 2014 Olympic Day in Kyiv June 21, 2014, Kyiv 2014 Olympic Day in Kyiv June 21, 2014, Kyiv 2014 Olympic Day in Kyiv June 21, 2014

, Kyiv 2014 Olympic Day in Kyiv June 21, 2014, Kyiv 2014 Olympic Day in Kyiv June 21, 2014, Kyiv 2014 Olympic Day in Kyiv June 21, 2014, Kyiv 2014 Olympic Day in Kyiv June 21, 2014, Kyiv 2014 Olympic Day in Kyiv June 21, 2014, Kyiv 2014 Olympic Day in Kyiv Buenos Aires, the 125th IOC Session Saint Petersburg (Russia), 29-31 May 2013 IOC Executive Board meeting St.Petersburg (Russia), 29-31 May 2013 IOC Executive Board meeting Sergey Bubka joined global TargetEbola programme November 22, 2014.

Monaco Sergey Bubka with his family at the World Athletics Gala November 22, 2014. Monaco Sergey Bubka and Renaud Lavillenie at the World Athletics Gala March 22, 2015. Taiwan Meet with young pole vaulters in Taiwan March 22, 2015. Taiwan Meet with young pole vaulters in Taiwan March 22, 2015. Taiwan Meet with young pole vaulters in Taiwan March 22, 2015. Taiwan Selfie with young pole vaulters in Taiwan March 22, 2015. Taiwan Meet with young pole vaulters in Taiwan March 22, 2015. Taiwan Sergey Bubka at Bronze Label New Taipei City marathon March 22, 2015. Taiwan Sergey Bubka at Bronze Label New Taipei City marathon March 22, 2015. Taiwan Sergey Bubka at Bronze Label New Taipei City marathon. Award ceremony March 22, 2015.

Taiwan Press-conference at Bronze Label New Taipei City marathon May 23, 2015, Kyiv 2015 Olympic Day in Kyiv May 23, 2015, Kyiv 2015 Olympic Day in Kyiv May 23, 2015, Kyiv 2015 Olympic Day in Kyiv May 23, 2015, Kyiv 2015 Olympic Day in Kyiv May 23, 2015, Kyiv 2015 Olympic Day in Kyiv May 23, 2015, Kyiv 2015 Olympic Day in Kyiv May 28, 2015, Riga Sergey Bubka's Gold Medal & Olympic Record - Seoul 1988 Olympics - YouTube Sergey Bubka's Gold Medal & Olympic Record - Seoul 1988 Olympics Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video? Sign in to report inappropriate content. Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later.

Published on Jul 3, 2012 Don't miss out on everything Olympic! Click here for all highlights, behind-the-scenes and more! Footage from the 1988 Seoul Olympics in which Ukrainian Olympic legend Sergey Bubka claims Gold and breaks the Olympic record in the process in the Pole Vault. In Seoul 1988, Bubka had his first opportunity to shine in the Olympic Games, having stayed out of Los Angeles four years earlier due to the Soviet Union boycott. Representing the USSR in Seoul, Sergey Bubka broke the Olympic record with a 5.90m mark which also gave him the Olympic gold medal. His fellow Soviets Rodion Gataullin and Grigoriy Yegorov join him on the podium. Bubka would still compete in the Barcelona 1992, Atlanta 1996 and Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. He is currently a member of the International Olympic Committee. Find more about Sergey Bubka: Category Sergey Bubka Bio, Stats, and Results | Olympics at Sports-Reference.com Related Olympians: Brother of Vasyl Bubka .

Medals: 1 Gold (1 Total) Biography Sergey Bubka is considered by many athletics historians as the most dominant pole vaulter of all-time. Bubka took up athletics in 1973 at age nine and initially did sprints and long jumping, but switched to pole vaulting in 1974. He was the first athlete to use the Petrov/Bubka technique, partly named for his coach, which allowed him to grip the pole higher than most vaulters. Bubka first competed internationally as a senior at the 1983 World Championships, where he emerged victorious. He went on to win five more World titles in 1987, 1991, 1993, 1995 and 1997. Despite his dominance, however, Bubka struggled at the Olympics, and won only one medal. After missing the 1984 Games due to the Soviet boycott and placing second in the pole vault at the Friendship Games, Bubka won an expected gold medal in Seoul in 1988.

In Barcelona in 1992, however, Bubka was one of the Games’ major disappointments, missing his starting height in the final. Injury prevented him from competing in Atlanta, and at the Sydney Games in 2000, by then past his prime, he was eliminated in qualification. Bubka won numeous other titles, including the World Indoors in 1985, 1987, 1991 and 1995; the 1986 European title; the 1985, 1987, 1991 and 1995 European Indoors; the 1986 Goodwill Games; the 1985 World Cup; the 1985 European Cup; and the 1985 and 1997 Grand Prix finals. He also broke the world record 28 times (17 outdoor, 11 indoor), usually bettering it by just a centimetre, as he collected bonus money for each improvement.

He broke his first world record in May 1984 (5.85) and was the first vaulter to clear 6 metres in June 1985, in Paris; and 20 feet (6.10) in August 1991 in Malmö, Sweden. Bubka set his final world record of 6.15 in February 1993 in Donetsk which stood almost 21 years. Bubka retired from athletics in 2001 and then embarked on a career in sports administration and politics. Already a member of the IOC Athlete’s Commission, he became president of the Ukrainian NOC and a full member of the IOC in 2005. In 2013, he ran for IOC President, but lost out to [Thomas Bach]. Bubka was the IOC Executive Board athletes’ representative from 2000-07 and since 2012 has been a full member of the Executive Board. Since 2001, Bubka has been an IAAF council member and in 2011 was elected as an IAAF vice-president.

From 2002-06, Bubka served in the Ukrainian parliament and on its Committee on youth policy, physical culture, sport and tourism. In 2014 he made plans to run for IAAF President. Personal Best\: PV – 6.15i (1993). Results Sergey Bubka - Olympic Legend - SuperSport - Olympics Gold pole vault Biography Although Sergey Bubka suffered from something of an Olympics curse, he is still recognized as one of the greatest Olympians because of his dominance in the sport. Born in Ukraine, Bubka competed for the Soviet Union until its collapse in 1991, and won gold in the pole vault at the 1988 Games in Seoul. Bubka set his first world record in May 1984, but did not compete at the Olympics that year because of the Soviet Union’s boycott. In 1992 and 2000 he flopped, failing with jumps at his first three attempts, and in 1996 he was forced to withdraw from the Atlanta Games because of a heel injury. .Nevertheless he remains the only athlete to have jumped more than 6.10 metres.

Event Streaming Sergey Bubka - Famous Olympic Athlete Home / Olympics / Great Olympians / Athletics / Sergey Bubka - Famous Athlete Sergey Bubka - Famous Athlete Date of Birth: 4 th December, 1963 Country: Ukraine Sport involved in: Pole Vault, Athletics Achievements made: Winner of the pole vault event in 6 consecutive IAAF World Championships In Athletics in 1983, 1987, 1991, 1993, 1995 and 1997 Olympic gold medalist in the pole vault event in 1988 Holder of the current outdoor world record in pole vault Holder of the current indoor world record in pole vault Awarded the best sportsman of the Soviet Union in 1984, 1985 and 1986 Voted the Sportsman of the Year for 1997 by L'Equipe Honored as the best pole vaulter of the last half century by Track & Field News Designated as an IAAF council member in 2001 Designated UNESCO Champion for Sport in 2003 Currently serving as the president of National Olympic Council (N

OC) of Ukraine and an IOC member Career: Sergey Bubka is a Ukrainian pole vaulter.

Bubka is regarded as the best pole vaulter ever. He is also known to be one of the best athletes of modern times. Bubka started his athletic career in 1981. He participated in the 1981 European Junior Championships. In the competition he got the seventh position. The 1983 World Championships at Helsinki was the actual entry point for Bubka into the mainstream athletics. He won the gold medal in the competition. The height of his vault was measured 5.70 meter. Bubka set his first world record in outdoor pole vault in 1984 with a height of 5.85 meter. In the same year he broke his own record thrice and reached to the height of 5.94 meter. In 1985, Bubka reached the unattainable height of 6.00 meter setting the new record in the field of pole vault. In the next ten years, Bubka had improved his own record with no one to challenge him. Currently he holds the outdoor world record of 6.14 meter, which he made in 1994.

Bubka broke his own record in the outdoor pole vault 17 times. He also holds the current world record in indoor pole vault event. He reached to the height of 5.81 meter in the indoor event in 1984, making his first world record in the field. Since then, he had broken the record 18 times in his career. Currently he holds the record with a height of 6.15 meter. Bubka was awarded the best sportsman of the Soviet Union in 1984, 1985 and 1986. Bubka participated in the 1988 Summer Games in Seoul. There he won his only Olympic gold medal in the event. Bubka won six consecutive IAAF World Championships in 1983, 1987, 1991, 1993, 1995 and 1997. L'Equipe voted him the Sportsman of the Year for 1997. Track & Field News honored Bubka as the best pole vaulter of the last half century.

Bubka was designated as an IAAF council member in 2001. In 2003, he was chosen the UNESCO Champion for Sport. From 2002 to 2006, Bubka had been a member of the Ukrainian Parliament and its committee of youth policy, physical culture, sport and tourism. Currently, Bubka holds the post of the president of National Olympic Council of Ukraine. He is also a member of the International Olympic Committee's executive board. Performance at the Olympics: Sergey Bubka was not much successful in his Olympic career. In the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, USSR boycotted the Games along with other eastern block countries. For this reason, Bubka could not compete in the Games, where he would have been the favorite for gold medal. In the 1988 Summer Games at Seoul, Bubka won his only Olympic title in the pole vault event. There also he came within one miss of finishing out of the medal completely. However, he jumped a height of 5.90 meter and won the title.

The top contender in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, Bubka missed all the three attempts and was out of the competition. In the 2000 Sydney Summer Games, he was disqualified from final after three missed attempts to reach 5.70 meter. Aquatics Sergey BUBKA - Olympic Athletics | Ukraine Sergey BUBKA Sergei Bubka utterly dominated pole vaulting for 10 years In that period he broke 35 world records, mostly his own. Six Worlds Pole vaulter Sergey Bubka burst onto the international scene when, as a 19 year old, he won gold at the inaugural World Athletics Championships in 1983. Over the next 14 years, he won all five World Championships, and is still the only athlete in any event to win six. Olympic misfortune Something usually went wrong for Bubka at the Olympic Games. The Soviet Union boycott in 1984 prevented him from participating. He won gold at the 1988 Seoul Games with an outstanding vault of 5.90m, but at the 1992 Barcelona Games the Olympic curse struck again: he failed to register a legal vault.

He was then injured for Atlanta. At the 2000 Sydney Games, he failed at the relatively easy height of 5.70m. Multiple record breaker In 1984 Bubka set his first world record with a vault of 5.85m. He proceeded to spend the rest of the decade breaking the world record time and time again, usually by just one centimetre at a time… Mission impossible A height of 6m was regarded as impossible in pole vaulting. However, Bubka cleared this height for the first time in June 1985. He then increased the record incrementally, setting his 17th and final world record with a vault of 6.14m in July 1994, a record which still stands today. FACTBOX-IAAF presidential candidate Sergey Bubka FACTBOX-IAAF presidential candidate Sergey Bubka Pin it Share BERLIN, Jan 28 (Reuters) - Ukrainian former Olympic champion Sergey Bubka announced his candidacy for the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) presidency on Wednesday.

Here are some facts about Bubka: * The 51-year-old dominated pole vault for more than a decade, winning the 1988 Seoul Olympics gold medal, six consecutive world athletics titles and four world indoor titles. He also set a total of 35 world records. * His Olympic career was not as stellar, winning his only medal -- gold -- in Seoul in 1988. He did not compete at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics due to the Soviet boycott. Injuries or a dip in form saw him fail to win a medal at the 1992, 1996 and the 2000 Olympics. * The son of a Red Army officer, Bubka almost drowned at the age of four when he fell into a barrel of water used for salting cabbage. * He officially retired in 2001 during a ceremony at his Pole Vault Stars meeting in Donetsk. In 2014, Frenchman Renaud Lavillenie broke Bubka's 20-year-old record at the same event, clearing 6.16m. * A former member of the Ukrainian parliament, Bubka holds a number of sports administration posts.

He is an IAAF Vice President since 2007, a member of the International Olympic Committee's powerful Executive Board and head of the Ukrainian Olympic Committee. * The Ukrainian, who unsuccessfully ran for the IOC Presidency in 2013, has a number of business interests, including a sports club, a bakery business as well as interests in other ventures, such as gas stations, real estate management companies and food stores. (Compiled by Karolos Grohmann; editing by Sudipto Ganguly) Reblog Sergey Bubka Awards & Public Service Athletics has always been an important part of Sergey Bubka's life, in which he reigned for more than four decades. Sergey Bubka excelled at sprint and long jump as a young boy. He took up the pole vault when he was nine years old and explained: “I had never even heard of the pole vault but an older neighbour of ours had started vaulting and enjoyed it. When the coach said I couldn’t start training until I was 12, my neighbour kept on insisting until I was given the opportunity. I sprinted 30 metres and did 15 pull ups even though I really knew nothing about the sport.

It sort of happened by accident but I was comfortable, and once I had started I never considered giving up.” When his coach, Vitaly Petrov, was transferred to Donetsk from neighboring Luhansk, Bubka's hometown, six years later, Sergey, along with his older brother who was also a vaulter, followed. Virtually unknown when he competed at the World Athletics Championship in Helsinki in 1983, he won the event with a vault of 5.70 metres which announced him as a world star. Bubka first set the outdoor world record in Bratislava in May 1984 and broke it twice over the next few weeks. Once considered unattainable, he cleared 6.00 metres for the first time in July 1985 in Paris. Dominating the sport for more than a decade, he broke the world record 35 times and still holds the outdoor world record of 6.14 (1994) metres. That’s taller than most giraffes, the tallest animal in the world. The Olympic Games provided mixed fortunes for Bubka.

He was prevented from competing in Los Angeles in 1984 due to the Soviet boycott – a decision which still hurts him today. In Seoul in 1988, he won gold but a loss of form and injury hindered his hopes of winning more Olympic medals. He made up for it in the IAAF World Athletics Championships, winning the pole vault event in six consecutive editions from 1983 to 1997. Gripping the pole higher than most vaulters, Bubka also used speed and strength to create the recoil force that allowed him to be so successful. “You have to be physically and psychologically very strong. On the ground you have to be a sprinter, then a jumper and gymnast – your brain has to work all the time,” he explained. He officially retired in 2001 during a ceremony at his Pole Vault Stars meeting in Donetsk. Sergey Bubka first got involved with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 1996 when he was elected as a Member of the Athletes’ Commission, providing input into the governance of sport from the perspective of an active athlete. Almost 20 years later he is still involved as an Honorary Member.

“I knew that I wanted to be involved in running sport and, in particular to be involved in the Olympic Movement,” he said. He became an IOC Member in 1999 and has been involved in a wide range of Commissions, including Chairman of the Evaluation and then the Coordination Commissions for the inaugural Youth Olympic Games in Singapore in 2010. As President of the National Olympic Committee in Ukraine since 2005, he has transformed the organisation into one of the most progressive in the world. It has staff based in all of the nation’s 27 regions with each taking responsibility for delivering an array of programmes designed to bring youngsters into sport, realise the potential of the most able and promote the Olympic Movement and its values. A National Olympic Day, the Olympic Stork which provides Olympic-themed education to more than 250,000 school classes across the country, televised annual awards and an Olympic Academy have all been established under Bubka’s reign. “NOCs must do more than select and send teams to Olympic Games,” says Bubka. “They are at the forefront of efforts to educate young people and help them become involved in sport and adopt a healthy lifestyle.

To do that we need to work together globally because if we don’t we risk losing the younger generation.” Bubka has also been involved with the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) since 2001 and has served as a Vice President since 2007. During this time, he remained on the Athletes’ Commission and is also a Council Member for ASOIF, the Association for Summer Olympic International Federations. Bubka commented: “I have been working at the IAAF for a long time and my work is not limited to one area. The good of athletics is something deep in my heart.” Sergey Bubka always had a bigger plan beyond competing as an athlete. Despite having made a living from his sport, he never forgot his roots or the struggles he faced when growing up in the Soviet era. “I knew I was coming to the end of my career and wanted to be ready,” he said. “Physically I had a programme to downgrade my training from my competitive state and beyond that I was ready to retire and take new steps.” A year after he had officially retired from top level competition, Bubka became a Member of the Ukrainian Parliament and the Prime Minister’s Advisor for Youth, Culture and Sports.

He spent four years working for the Ukrainian government and also developed a range of business ventures, which he and his family still run today. Among them is Sergey Bubka Sports Club, established in 1990, which provides training and support for hundreds of young people, many of whom have gone on to win medals at top competitions. “I decided to create a sports club during the Soviet times. It was my dream.” Along with his brother he runs a bakery business and has had interests in other ventures, such as gas stations, real estate management companies and food stores. Unsurprisingly for a man who cherishes loyalty so highly, a number of staff members are friends from his early days as an athlete. “Many of the people I trained with didn’t get to be professionals so some came to work with me at the club. We understand each other and because I know how they feel I will try to help them. I cannot just stand by and do nothing.” The son of a Red Army praporshik, Bubka almost drowned at the age of four when he fell into a barrel of water used for salting cabbage.

He met gymnast Lilia Tutunik when she was a teenager and he was just 21 and they married in 1984 and have been together ever since. “For me, family is incredibly important and in my own family, everyone is very close. We understand each other, we love each other and we respect each other,” says Bubka. “My family is a reflection of my life and they make me very proud. My wonderful wife, a former athlete as well, is strong and wise and provides great support for us all. She shares my passion about the importance of sport for society.” They have two sons, Vitaliy, born in 1985 and Sergey Jnr born in 1987. Lilia encouraged both of them to take up tennis from a young age and although Vitaliy decided to grow his career in business, the younger of the brothers is still playing at a high level on the professional circuit. “We never told them ‘you must do this…”, adds Bubka. “We gave them guidelines and they grew up better than. Just as my father let me find my own path, I have done the same for my two sons. They have strong personalities with great motivation and their own vision of life.

They make their own lives. I am always there to provide support and guidance when they ask for it and I am very proud of what both of them have achieved and who they both have become.” Sergey Bubka has always wanted to share his passion for sport with the widest possible audience. As a UNESCO Ambassador and a Laureus World Sports Academy Member, he has served tirelessly to help young people. Bubka was designated UNESCO Champion for Sport in 2003 in recognition of his role in the promotion of peace and tolerance through sport and the Olympic spirit, his humanitarian activities in favour of young people, his action to enable disadvantaged children to benefit from physical education, and his dedication to UNESCO ideals. In 2008, he was awarded the Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition for the work he has done both in Ukraine and beyond, having also worked as a World Health Organisation Ambassador to promote the fight against tuberculosis and support child victims of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. He also recieved a prestigious Prince of Asturias Award in Spain which recognises athletes who make notable achievements. He was inducted into the IAAF Hall of Fame and won numerous international awards in relation to his sporting achievements.

Sergey Bubka | Laureus Sergey Bubka Residence: Ukraine Sergey Bubka is one of the most illustrious sporting figures of our time. The greatest pole-vaulter in history, he is the only athlete to have won six successive world titles. He dominated his chosen discipline for almost two decades, although surprisingly he won just one Olympic gold medal in four attempts, at Seoul in 1988. Biography Sergey Bubka is one of the most illustrious sporting figures of our time. The greatest pole-vaulter in history, he is the only athlete to have won six successive world titles. He dominated his chosen discipline for almost two decades, although surprisingly he won just one Olympic gold medal in four attempts, at Seoul in 1988. He was the first man to break the six-metre barrier, in Paris in 1985, and in March 1991 became the first to clear 20 feet (6.10 metres). He has held the world record of 6.14 metres outdoor since 1994 and 6.15 metres indoor since 1993.

He broke the world record a total of 35 times in his career. The Soviet boycott of the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics cost Bubka a virtually certain gold medal and, four years later in Seoul, he needed just one valid jump, a competition record of 5.90 metres, to secure his first and only Olympic gold. Arguably his greatest gold medal was his last, in the 1997 World Championships in Athens, where, at 36, he had been written off in the build-up to the event, yet his victory provided one of the great moments in athletics history. At the end of the 1980s, Bubka was anxious to do something for his home city of Donetsk. "I decided to invest in a sports club to help young people. With the system collapsing there was not enough money to bring children to sport. When they finish school, the kids are there on the streets and you have to produce some interest for them. In these cases sport is one of the best things." The Bubka Sports Club now has 300 youngsters doing athletics training with ten coaches whose salary is covered by Bubka.

His most exciting moment was when one of the youngsters from the club, Maksym Mazuryk, won the pole-vault at the World Junior Championships in Jamaica in 2002. "I was there as an official and I was able to see him win. You can't imagine how exciting it was. You can't get the same emotion as when you are competing, but it's still wonderful and makes all the work at the Sports Club worthwhile." After his sports career Sergey Bubka became a sport administrator and politician. He decided to give back to sport and is currently the President of the Ukrainian National Olympic Committee, Senior Vice President of the IAAF, Member of IOC Executive Board and Chairman of the IOC Athlete's Commission. He has also been a Member of the Ukrainian Parliament and the Cabinet of Ministers as the Prime Minister's Advisor for Youth, Culture and Sports. A founding member of the Laureus World Sports Academy, he also supports the United Nations Development Programme, the World Health Organisation/Fight against Tuberculosis, UNESCO, Programme for Chernobyl Children Victims and the Regional and Public Coordination Board for the Social Protection of Handicapped and Orphaned Children.

Sergey Bubka | Laureus Sergey Bubka Born:December 4, 1963,Lugansk, Ukraine Residence:Ukraine Sergey Bubka, the greatest pole vaulter in history, who won a record six successive world titles, was one of the most illustrious sporting figures of all time. Biography Sergey Bubka, the greatest pole vaulter in history, who won a record six successive world titles, was one of the most illustrious sporting figures of all time. He dominated his chosen discipline for almost two decades. Although he surprisingly won just one Olympic gold medal in four attempts at Seoul in 1988, he will always be remembered for his six consecutive World Championship gold medals and the astonishing 35 times he broke his own World record. Bubka possessed enormous strength, speed and gymnastic ability and the fact that he gripped the pole higher than most vaulters gave him extra leverage. He retired in February 2001 and would have added to his superlative achievements had he not suffered from a series of leg and tendon injuries towards the end of his career.

He first announced himself on the global stage as a 19-year-old at the 1983 World Championships in Helsinki where torrential rain postponed the pole vault qualifying and also affected the 27-man final. But the young Bubka remained focused and rose above this, impressively soaring 5.70 metres to claim the title. One year later, he set his first World record, indoors in Vilnius, thus ushering in his remarkable sequence of records. The Soviet boycott of the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics ruled Bubka out of a virtually certain gold medal and, four years later in Seoul, he needed just one valid jump, a competition record of 5.90 metres, to secure his first and only Olympic gold. Yet outside the Olympic arena, the gifted Ukrainian reigned supreme. He was the first man to break the six-metre barrier - in Paris in 1985 - and in March 1991 he became the first vaulter to clear 20 feet when he set his 13th world indoor record with a clearance at 6.10 metres.

His defence of his title at the 1997 World Championships in Athens, where he had been written off in the build-up to the event, provided one of the great moments in athletics history. In 1999 he was elected to the International Olympic Committee and one year later he became a member of the IOC Executive Board. Now he is President of the IOC Athletes’ Commission and is a member of the IAAF Council, the Ukrainian Olympic Committee and the Ukrainian Athletics Federation Executive Board. Twitter

Question: In 1988 Ukrainian Sergey Bubka won Olympic Gold in what event?
Answer: Pole Vaulting